July 25, 2014

Who remembers Viscount di Villa?

A former prominent Newport Tory councillor died three years ago of hypothermia in Nottingham.

Mr Ztan Zmith of Nottingham is researching an autobiography of Alwyn Rees who changed his name by deed poll to the 'Viscount' Alwyn John Eugene Manso-Reesare di Villa. A Nottingham paper carried the story below. I spoke today to Mr Zmith and told him that most of his Newport acquaintences remember Alwyn Rees is less than heroic terms.

The Newport Conservatives gained a rare majority on Newport Council in 1968 and made the 'Viscount di Villa' as Chairman of the powerful Education Committee. He revelled in his adopted title and frequently promised friends and visitors a few crates of champagne from his estates in France. None ever arrived. He left Newport with a strong impression that he had a Walter Mitty personalty given to irrational flights of fancy. Mr Smith had not heard that Alwyn Rees had been Chairman of Newport Education Committee. Very odd as this was probably the main achievement of his life. That information does not appear on any of his obituaries. He died in wretched circumstances, perhaps living his illusions until his final moments.

Since moving from Newport, he dropped the title 'Viscount' and acquired an OBE. The local tributes indicated he worked hard for the local community.

Mr Zmith said, "All the books that he owned contained a pasted label inside the front cover displaying a coat of arms and sporting the inscription 'Eugene Vicomte di Villa'.

"Eugene has no known family. He married three times and all his wives are dead. His son died in a plane crash in the 1950s.

"When Eugene died more than three years ago Selston Parish Council had to arrange the funeral. His grave in Underwood Churchyard has been grassed over and is marked with a simple wooden cross bearing a hand written inscription."

I would be grateful to hear recollections of his time in Newport that I will pass on to Mr Zmith.

A campaign has been launched to ensure that a beloved local author and parish councillor, who once defied the Nazis as a brave child, is not forgotten.

Eugene Di Villa OBE represented Underwood on Selston Parish Council from 1981 until his death in 2010 and was a well-loved community figure who also stood for election to Ashfield District Council.

However, when he died of hypothermia at the age of 79 his family could not be contacted.

He was buried in St Michael’s churchyard in Underwood with a plain, hand-written wooden cross to mark his grave as being paid for by Underwood Parish Cuncil.

But the plot is now grassed over and the cross is beginning to rot away. Now his friends are determined not to let him be forgotten and are trying to raise money to pay for a fitting stone headstone.

Especially as Mr Di Villa had led an extraordinary life.

The most astonishing episode was when, at just ten years old, the village in France where Eugene lived with his family was invaded by Nazis.

They demanded to know where his father was as he was fighting with the French Resistance.

Eugene and his older brother refused to betray their father so the Nazis drove an armoured car at them. His brother was killed and Eugene’s leg was ripped off.

Friend and fellow councillor Andrew Fell described Eugene as ‘a gentleman who was liked by everyone on the parish council’.

He told the Advertiser: “Eugene was a wonderful man. Nothing was ever too much trouble and he was so generous.

“If anything was going on in the village he would be the first one there.

“He went through a lot and it is important that his memory doesn’t die with him.”

During his time as a councillor he helped to established a doctors’ surgery in Underwood and played a part in saving the St Michael’s Church clock in Underwood, which was donated in 1919 to commemorate WW1, from falling into disrepair.

However, he was a very private man who rarely spoke about his life, so it came as a shock to his friends when it was revealed at his funeral that he had changed his name by deed poll from Alwyn John Rees to Eugene di Villa in 1959.

Local author Stan Smith, aka Ztan Zmith, has researched the councillor’s life and written a book entitled ‘Eugene di Villa’ which reveals history of the enigmatic man as part of the fundraising effort for a gravestone.

He said: “The ladies clearing up the graveyard were so upset that the only grave in the whole churchyard without a proper headstone was his.

“We just want to raise enough to pay for a simple headstone with his name and and an inscription ‘A friend to Underwood’.”

‘Eugene di Villa’ is available from Underwood Post Office for £2, call Ztan on 01773 783009 or to donate e-mail stan@powercomp.co.uk.

Comments

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i remember Mr Devilla/Reece as a teacher for a while he was our scoutmaster....i always thought him to be a pervert he was always drawing scantily dressed women on the blackboard...He had an for the Lovely Miss Stanton the art teacher.

I was a french language pupil of his at Markfield, before I left in 1964. We were an unruly class,and he once called out an innocent member of the class, and made him pick one of us out and cane them. It was vary bizarre.

I remember "Vicomte Di Villa" well. While not appearing to be a very good French teacher I now realise that he inspired me to take an interest in France and I later realised that I learnt more from him than I realised.
I do recall him being much liked by most of his pupils at my school. I was at Landseer Boys Ipswich.
I note that another respondent who was in the same class as me described the school as "mediocre" but I disagree. After 5 years at this school I was set up to enjoy a successful and rewarding career followed by a comfortable retirement. I have a lot to be grateful to both Mr Di Villa and Landseer School for.

I remember eugene di villa ... I still have school reports signed by him, he was my form teacher in 1959/60. He called me Jumbo, could have been my ears but more likely It was because I was known as Jim or Jimbo. He was a great man, friendly and always good for a laugh. He always said he could see behind him with his special glasses .... sorry to hear of his passing. Hi also to Melvyn Ackerman and Barry Watkinson, two names I remember well. Nice to hear your comments .....

I have just discovered a birthday card from the Viscount de Villa. I was an art student at Newport and he was my landlord in Allt yr Un(?). This was 1968 / 69.
Three of us had digs with him and his wife, a nurse. When we all returned on a Sunday our evening meal was served in their dining room, full silver service and just the three of us!
He became a governor at the art College in the last term of our time there. Both he and his wife were always very supportive and polite.

I remember Mr Reece De Ville from my school days at Markfield, he rented a room at a friends house in Earlsmead Rd Tottenham , I lived across the road , I do recall a time when our metalwork and technical drawing teacher Mr Archer did a repair on Mr Reece's metal leg they were both laughing and making jokes , fond memories , I left Markfield in 1960 , Mr Reece left to take up a new appointment . So sad to hear the way passed away . Keith Maskell

Thanks. Your recollection match those of others. I am still puzzled about his failure to leave any money or property that could have been used to pay for a gravestone. Good to see that thanks to local people a gravestone has now been put in place.

I remember Di villa. am sorry to hear of his passing, I received a "posh" Christmas card every year.
I tried to locate him when ididnt receive a card but had no luck at the time.
He came to visit me in Stanstead Abbots Ware around 18 years ago completely out of the blue after attending some meeting in StAlbans.
My wife was fascinated by his stories of his involvement with politics and his knowledge of certain people one being Maggie Thatcher, and dignitaries he met in the Lords.
I remember him as a good teacher, I don't think I learnt much French but every little bit helped, He was Mr Rees when I started at Markfield so then him becoming a " Viscount " was most most fascinating at the time.
I agree with Melvyn who I remember from Markfield School he was popular and could tell and good story.
RIP
Barry Watkinson attended Crowland Rd /Markfield 1958 to 1963.

I rememberEugene di Villa very well. He taught me French at Landseer Secondary Modern School Ipswich from 1962 to 1964. He was pretty much the only redeeming aspect of an otherwise mediochre school. He was unauthodox and not very effective in teaching us French and we doubted many of his stories but in other ways he was inspirational. he introduced me to medieval architecture and took me to cathedrals, churches and castles all over the country, often at his own expense. He sent me Christmas cards emblazoned with his impressive (but totally fictitious) title for many years after I left Ipswich. I often think of him and speak of him.

Thank you Melvyn. That is fascinating. Your assessment of him is very close to mine. Good to have confirmation that he was a good teacher,.
Be grateful to hear more details. Which school and when. When did you realise that his stories were false and why?

I agree he was a good teacher; playful and popular with his pupils and an effective communicator.
However, the whole French persona and how he lost his leg are a total fabrication.
As a pupil from the first intake after he changed his name, It is easy to see how he re-invented himself. He was a fantasist of epic proportions; but a good man nonetheless.

I remember Mr Devilla/Reece well. I attended Crowland Rd and Markfield schools, Tottenham from 1960 - 1964 and Mr DI villa was our French master. He was a marvellous teacher loved by all of his pupils. We knew that he had a false leg, though he never spoke of this himself but it was commom knowledge among the pupils that as a french citizen, he had lost a leg during the nazi occupation of France. This happened when he was fighting with the French Resistance. Of course I do not know that this is true but I choose to believe it and will always remember Mr Reece/ di ville as a great teacher who also inspired a great love of the French language, and was great fun as a teacher.